Vehicle washing unit



July 20, 1965 VEHICLE WASHING UNIT v -Fi1edJan. 22, 1964 2 sheets-sheet 1 l? (28 (3 (32\ Al' f4?l MMT 3 v few I I I-; 1641@ W' tIII" /6 w. 'roNKowIcH ETAL v 3,195,546

July 20, 1955 w. 'roNKowlcH ETAL 3,195,546

VEHICLE WASHING UNIT Filed Jan. 22, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.-

INVENTORS. ,ze '28 30 134 w/L/AM raA/Aow/a/ J. ,2 a 4s PA am p/.efcr/au BY m M W of VIH/ae I Q" g United States Patent O 3,195,546 VEHICLE WASHHNG UNIT William Tonkowich and Thomas Pawelko, Franklin Lakes, NJ., assignors to Associated Testing Laboratories, Inc., County of Passaic, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Jan. 22, 1964, Ser. No. 339,416 1 Claim. (Cl. 134-45) This invention relates to vehicle washing apparatus and, particularly, to a portable self-contained vehicle washing unit adapted for convenient transp-ort to and from vehicles to be washed,

Conventionally con-structed vehicle washing .apparatus are most often in the nature of permanent fixed installations occupying considerable area and being of varying degrees of complexity dependent upon .the degree of automation involved. As such most, if not all, of such installations are characterized by relatively high initial component and installation costs, 'and high maintenance and Ioperating cost in the sense that considerable overhead must be .allocated to the space occupied by the installed apparatus. In -a conventional service station application, this usually involves the allocation of at least one car rep-air stall for the washing facility which is not only an appreciable portion of the total service station building area but, also, in most installations, is used only a small portion of the time. In addition, such conventional units are of such nature as to economically preclude change in location once installation has been effected.

Mobile washing units have been previously suggested for the specific purpose of washing railway cars or other objects incorporating extensive planar surfaces. Such suggested units, however, although mobile, are usually unduly large and expensive and are basically unsuited .to use as a compact mobile work unit, lacking the necessary features of ready portability Iand flexibility in assembly and operat-ion required for vehicular washing operations of the type herein of particular concern.

This invention may be brieily described as an improved self-contained construction for a mob-ile vehicle washing apparatus which, in its broad aspects, includes a wheeled and compartmented housing adapted and arranged to contain and present all facilities necessary to permit customized car washing operat-ions in a more rapid and efiicient manner than heretofore `attainable and at locations heretofore unavailable for such operations.

Among the advantages of the subject unit is its low cost both initial and installation, and ready adaptability to permit customized car wash operations in amounts and at location-s which heretofore were unavailable for car washing. Other advantages include compact size, ready portability and lack of xed installation requirements, all of which contribute to a selfcontained and self-sufticient unit permitting use at any location affording a household electric current and a standard pressure cold water outlet within minutes after its arrival. A still further advantage is the permitted eiecting of customized car wash operations with a minimum of manual manipulative operations and a consequent reduction in operator fatigue `and effort. Still another radvantage of the subject unit is the permitted attainment of car washing oper-ation equivalent or better than that attainable from the conventional large and fixed installation for only a minor fraction of the investment cost involved therein.

It is the prim-ary object of applicants invention to provide an improved self-contained construction for a compact, portable automotive vehicle washing apparatus.

A further object it to prov-ide a low cost, compact and compartmented portable vehicle washing apparatus lCe combining portable spray loops and auxiliary facilities for effecting customized car washing in a highly efficient manner.

Another object is to provide such a unit as requires only the availability of conventional electric and cold water supply outlets for operation.

A still further object is to provide such a unit 4as may be set up for operation or conditioned for storage in a matter of several minutes.

A still further object is the provision of a compact, seltcontained portable car wash apparatus of improved construction that permits highly etti-cient customized car washing operations to be etected at locations previously unsuitable therefor.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of an improved compact car wash apparatus that renders customized car washing operations an economic practicality at locations previously unsuited therefor for physical or economic reasons.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description and attached drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an oblique view of a preferred embodiment of `the invention as the machine is set up for operation;

FIGURE 2 is an oblique View of the unit of FIGURE l as set up for movement from one location to another;

FIGURE 3 is an elevational -view of the 'front of the unit;

FIGURE `4 is ran elevational View of the rear of the unit;

FIGURE 5 is `an elevational view of the water delivery side of the unit;

FIGURE 6 is `an elevational view of the other side of the unit;

FIGURE 7 is a schematic diagram showing elements of the water and detergent -supply systems and controls therefor. j

Referring to the drawings and particularly to FIGURES l and 2, there is provided a compact and ready portable self-contained vehicle washing apparatus comprising a wheeled support 2 having a folding handle 4 for Steerage and displacement actuation and a generally rectangularly shaped enclosure 6. Permanently mounted on one side of the enclosure 6 are a pair of selectively spaced and vertically disposed liquid spray pipes 8, 10, each having a plurality of selectively located spray nozzles 12 thereon and selectively connected, internally of the enclosure, to the liquid supply systems as hereinafter will be described. Releasably mounted on the other side of the enclosure 6 is a second pair of liquid spray pipes 14 and 16, terminally secured to a base plate 18 and maintained in parallel spaced relation by a strap member 26. The spray pipes 14 and 16 are also provided with a plurality of spray nozzles 12. Supported in a bracket-like holder member 22 disposed on the top of the enclosure 6 are a pair of spray pipes 24 and 26 having a plurality of spray nozzles therein and terminally provided with quick connect and disconnect elbow type couplings 32, for releasable interconnection with the upper ends of the aforementioned spray pipes 8, 10, 14 and 16. As best shown in FIGURE 1, the spray pipes 14 and 16 are adapted to be disposed in parallel spaced relation with the fixed spray pipes 8, 1i) and to be releasably interconnected therewith by the spray pipes 24 and 26 to form a pair of discrete spray loops generally designated 28 and 30.

As will be apparent, the subject construction readily permits the rapid assembly and disassembly of the spray loops 28 and 30 as well as efiicient and compact storage of the components thereof in disassembled condition. The quick connect and disconnect elbow type couplings 32 and the complemental fittings at the ends of the vertical areas/ie tively large compartment 34 is which' is disposed a small special high speed automatic washerV and spindryer ,36 having suitable Water connections 38 and electric connections 40 for cleaning andldrying polishing cloths and similar materials. A preferred washer-dryer unit will be capable of cleaning 18 to 20 wiping towels in 10 minutes, -thus assuring a continued supply of clean towels even when cars are being washed at full capacity. Center opening verticalV hinged'door's 42 and ,44 provide. ready Y access to the Washer-dryer unit compartment 34.. v Y

Disposed adjacent thereto vand opening intermediate the fixed spray pipes 8, 10 is a second compartmentr46 (see FIGURE 5) extending` about half Vthefdepth of the" enclosure 6 and adapted to house a detergent solution tank or reservoir 48, a detergent solution pump andan associated solenoid control valve 52. v The Ydetergent solution tank A48 will be connected bysuitable internal piping through the detergent solutionfpumpv 50 and associated solenoid activated control valve 52 to fixed spray pipe 8 and Vconcomitantly to spray loop 30 ,for spraying of detergent solution on to a'vehicle being washed.

Disposed at the rear of the enclosure 6 (as illustratedl in FIGURE 4) Vis an enlarged storage section 58 having a vertical partition dividing the section into a shelf-y storage portion and an interior cleaning device port-ion. The shelf storage portion is provided with a plurality of shelves 62 for shelf storage of cleaning accessories such as towels, brushes, pans and other material. Access to compartment 46is provided by a side doory 47 and access to compartment 58 is provided'by the center .opening front doors 64. Disposed within the other portion of the compartment 58 is a built-in industrial vacuum cleanerv66 having its intake pipe disposedrin alignment with a suitable aperture 68 in the adjacentjdoor half 64.y As illustrated,

the shelf storage portion of the compartmentf58'is snm-Q cien-tly amply sized as to permitl storage of the/vacuum` cleaner unit suction hose 70 when the same is not in use.

When in use, the terminal end of the hose 70 is readily Y connectedto the cleaner intake pipe through the aperture l 68. y Y 4 Y Disposed on lthe other side of theenclo'sure 6'(as illustherein for selectively supplying water, when desired, to

the detergent solution tank 48 and to the Washing machine 36. The pipe 188 is directly connected, through lthe solenoid actuated valve 114 and vheader 116 to the fixed vertical spray pipe 10 forming a portion of the Water spray loop 28.

Actuation of thevalve 114l to effect 'water flow is f adapted to be effected by actuationof either or both of a pair of'limit rswitches 124,126 in response to displacement of extending actuating arms 1728, 130, which are normally biasedto a positionrperpendicular to the direction of vehicle advance, in eitherrdirection. As indicated,v

' the actuating arms 128, 130 are adapted to be removably insertable into suitable receptacles in the enclosure 6 and are disposed so as to be displaceably responsive to 'the position of a vehicle relative to the water spray loopv 28; In a similar manner, the.detergentsolution pump 50 and the detergent Ysolution solenoid controlled valve 52 Y are .adapted tobe simultaneously actuatedin a similar manner byfa one way limit switch 132 Iadapted vto be `actuated by 'selective' displacement of` an extending actuating arm 113,4 bythe adv-ance, but not the return of a vehicle throughathevdetergent spray loop 30. indicated, actuating armrf134 is adapted' to be removably insertable into a suitable receptacle in the enclosure 6 lso located as to be displaceablyresponsive to the position of a vehicle relative to the detergent loop 30 so as to effect a complete spraying of detergent solution thereon as the vehicle is .advanced therepa'st. Y

As best shown in FIGURES l .and 7, operation of the subject unit is effected by initially positioning rthe unit its-elf in a desired and suitable location, connecting the connecting the power cord 82. to an electrical outlet and' Water supply hose 78 to a suitable cold water supply,

tion indica-ted by the artrowrfisa (FIGURE 7)-wi11'efreet initial displacement of arm 128.y

located Ytha-t the required degree. of displacement thereof The arm 128 is so to actuate limit switch 124 is eifectedv when'the nose of the car is slightly in advance of thewaterspray loop 28.

YActuation of the limit 'switch 124 effects actuation of water valve 114 with a' consequent flow of Water through V the spray loop 218 and through the spray nozzles 12 therey on to the vehicle asf it continues its advance. 'Ihisinitial water spray serves to cool the vehicle, vremove a portion of the dirt therefrom and to condition the surface thereof to receiveY the detergent solution. Continued vehicle adtrated in FIGURE 6) is a hose and power cordv storage compartment 74 having an access 'door 76. Compartment 74 preferably contains an extendible water hose 78,

for connection to a cold water faucet mounted on a rotatable reel 80 so'as to facilitate hose withdrawal and compact storage thereof.y In a similar manner, the compartment 74 also contains an extendible electric cord 82 for connection tov an external power supply to providey power for all unit components and which is also mountedv on a rotatable reel 84 for Yfacilitating withdrawal andl compact storage thereof;

vance will effect displacement of the second actuating arm Referringagain to FIGURE 4, the subject unit includesv a master ,control panel vdisposed above the doors 64at the end, of the unit. Mounted thereon are suitable switches. such as 92, 94, 96 for respectively operating the.

vacuum cleaner 66, Washing mach-ine 36v and other units;

A dispensableY paper towel roll holder 98 is preferably Y mounted on .the door 64. v y Y lReferring now. to FIGURE 7,7water `is supplied'by means of the water Vhose -78connectable to an external water supply service through pipe 108. Included in the pipe 108 is a free tlowwatervlter 1 067to minimize spray .Y

nozzle clogging. Downstream thereof is a junction with a branch'pipe 11G-,having a manually operable valve 112 water spr-ay loop 28 after release of the first arm 128 to tthoroughlyespray the rearV ofV the vehicle. Continued .vehicle advance will next'efect selective directional displacement` andkactuation of control .arm 134 with consequent actuation of the solenoid controlled valve 52 and Vdetergent solution pump 50 in the detergent solution system to initiate a spray of detergent solution from the spray loop 3) on to the vehicle as it progresses therepast. Y YFollowing detergent solution-application .as described above, which'of course automatically ceases when arm 134 .is'disengagei the vehicle -is given manual cleaning by brushing, to the extent that is or may be required, as Well as necessary wheel cleaning ory white wall` ti-re 'scrubbing. VVAfter a suitable delay time'to permit the progres-ses past the water loop 28 to effect thorough rinsing thereof.

After such return passage through :the above described lspray loop system, the vehicle will be available for final manual cleaning operations such as interior vacuuming by mean-s of the contained vacuum cleaning unit 66 in cornpartment 58; interior Window cleaning and linal exterior drying and check.

From the foregoing description of the unit and its yoperlation it will be evident to those skilled in this art that in accordance with `applicants invention, there is provided an extremely compact, versatile, inexpensive and readily portable work center or unit for effecting the customized washing and cleaning of automotive vehicles in a highly efficient manner. Because of the units ready mobility compact design and simplied set up operations, the subject unit lcan be located and made ready for operation in a matter of minutes at any convenient location, many of which were not heretofore suitable for such type of operation. A-s is also apparent, the small size and ready mobility permits fthe unit to be stored without inconvenience and be used both indoors and outdoors, thus avoiding the extended tie-up -of work areas which can be used for other work. This is particularly important in the case of gas stations Where flexibility is required for use of stall or yard spaces.

Moreover, the subject unit is adapted to produce a thoroughly clean car, in a matter of minutes, and can be easily operated by one man. This is particularly important in gas Istation operations where car washing is at best an intermittent occurence, usually not Warranting the permanent tie-up of space or permanent labor cost, but which, because customer service is required, often presents a money losing proposition to the station owner. With .the above described units, one man can Wash up to five cars per hour with minimum operating costs and the resultant -job compares `favorably with that produced by permanent parking lots, country clubs, large apartment houses and adjacent supermarkets or shopping center areas.

It should al-so be noted that the subject units can also be used, with only minimum modification, on docks for the customized washing of small waterborne boats secured to the dock. The units can readily function to not only remove all salt water but to clean thoroughly the boat down to the water line `on both sides thereof.

Variations and modifications in the details and arrangement of the parts may be resorted to within the true spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended to include all ysuch variations and modifications in the appended claim.

We claim:

A mobile vehicle washing unit comprising, a wheeled compartmented storage housing, a source of pressurized detergent uid supported in said housing, a plurality of spray sections with quick detachable connections for interconnection thereof to form spray archways, means for supporting said spray archways in horizontally spaced relation lon and along one side of said housing, means including an interposed solenoid valve connecting at least one of said spray archways to said detergent fluid source, means including a second interposed solenoid valve for connecting another of said spray archways to a source of water under pressure, a limit switch for each of said rst zand second solenoids to selectively control actuation thereof and consequent iiow of uid Athrough said spray archways and an actuator arm for each of said limit switches projecting from lsaid wheeled housing for displaceable actuation by displacement of a vehicle to be washed therepast.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,022,882 12/35 Erdmann 134-93 2,648,342 8/53 Vani 134-123 X 2,732,846 1/56 Berezny 134-45 2,740,414 4/56 Moskow 134-123 X 2,752,925 7/56 Friers 134-123 3,072,131 1/ 63 Di Laurenzio 134-123 CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Elxaminer.

GEORGE I. NORTH, Examiner. 

